Baseball records are a tremendous source of materials for writers like myself. In keeping with one of my resolutions for 2026, which I published on December 31, 2025 in a Sunday Morning Coffee Thoughts – Extra missive. “I promise to take another look at one of the statistical darling offerings of the Baseball Stat World, WAR (Wins Above Replacement). I’ve always viewed this stat as an apples/oranges argument and more hypothetical than realistic in nature. I promise to re-examine the thought process behind the stat offering and see if I can agree with the theory behind it. Challenge accepted!”

After a few minutes perusing Baseball-Reference.com I had what I needed. I decided to take a look at the top 25 players in WAR in the history of the game. The objective was to see if anything stood out in the litany of the best of the best in this statistic. I made sure that I included pitchers and position players as the top 25 includes both. To my surprise, I found five instances where players, usually thought to be position players only, also had at least one occasion where they took to the mound for their team.

I excluded for obvious reasons the #1 WAR leader Babe Ruth and pitchers on the list before the advent of the DH, specifically #2 Walter Johnson, #15 Grover Cleveland Alexander, #17 Kid Nichols (1890-1901), #22 Tom Seaver or players that played in both AL and NL before the universal DH (#8 Roger Clemens – had a couple of one off at bats in the AL and hit regularly with the Astros before realignment).

I knew one of the players had accomplished this feat, the other four instances were a total surprise. One of those in particular proved to be the most interesting story of them all. So here in the “who knew” category are the players who are known for being position players and the best of the best, but spent time on the mound to at least face one batter.

(Authors Note: Thanks to Baseball-Reference.com and Baseball-Almanac.com for the stats and outing information)

Ty Cobb (War Rank: 6 (151.4) Total innings pitched 5.0)

Must admit, the thing that surprised me most was that it happened in two different seasons. The first in 1918, his age 31 season and the second in 1925 his age 38 season. In 1918 he pitched in two games on September 1st and September 2nd. In his first appearance, in the second game of a doubleheader against the St. Louis Browns (away game in St. Louis), he pitched 2 innings in relief, allowing 3 hits and 1 earned run in a 6-2 loss. A day later on September 2 in game two of a doubleheader this time against the Chicago White Sox (home game in Detroit), he pitched 2 innings in relief, allowing 3 hits and 1 earned run in a 7-3 win.

The total for the season was 4 innings pitched. He gave up 6 hits, 2 walks and didn’t strike out anyone while facing a total of 17 batters. This netted him a 4.50 ERA, 3.73 FIP and a WHIP of 2.00. (Note: Both these games were at the end of the 1918 season which ended earlier ended than normal in early September due to World War I.)

The second time, in 1925 was a bit more successful and earned him a .1 WAR. Cobb pitched in one game for the Detroit Tigers, totaling 1 perfect inning. On October 4 in Game 2 of a double header against the St. Louis Browns (away game in St. Louis), he pitched the bottom of the 8th inning, facing three batters with no hits, runs, or walks allowed, earning a save (while not yet an official stat) in an 11-6 win. He earned a 0.00 ERA, 2.20 FIP and a WHIP of 0.00.

One has to wonder if opposing hitters on each occurrence feared for their safety given that Cobb was known for his hyper competitive nature and aggressive and often violent play.

Tris Speaker (War Rank: 9 (134.0) Total innings pitched 1.0)

The Red Sox Hall of Fame center fielder, made a rare pitching appearance during his career in 1914, in his age 26 season. Speaker pitched in one game, totaling 1 inning. On October 7, the final game of the season, he appeared against the Washington Nationals/Senators (home game in Boston). His relief effort included 2 hits and 1 earned run and a no decision in a game the Red Sox lost 11-4. His final stat line was an ERA of 9.00, a 2.44 FIP and a 2.00 WHIP while facing 4 batters in front of 832 fans.

Honus Wagner (War Rank:10 (131.1) Total innings pitched 8.1)

The Pittsburgh Pirate legend pitched twice in his 21 year career, in 1900 in his 26 year old season and in 1902 in his 28 year old season. The first mound stint was on July 13, 1900. He faced the Philadelphia Phillies at home logging three innings. In that outing, he allowed 3 hits, 3 runs (0 earned), issued 4 walks, and recorded 1 strikeout. He did not receive a win or loss and his ERA for the season was 0.00 and had a FIP of 6.16 and a WHIP of 2.333. (Note: The Pirates committed 5 errors in this game)

The second and final time was two years later in 1902 on September 5, 1902 in the second game of a doubleheader, when Pirates faced the Boston Nationals (aka Beaneaters) at South End Grounds in Boston. The Pirates were blown out 12-1, with Wagner entering in relief after the starter, Harvey Cushman lasted just 1.2 innings. In his outing, he pitched 5.1 innings, allowing 4 hits, 2 runs (none earned), 2 walks, 5 strikeouts, and 3 wild pitches. His ERA for the season was 0.00 with a 1.92 FIP and a 1.125 WHIP. (Note: The Pirates committed 3 errors in this game)

Ted Williams (War Rank: 14 (121.8) Total innings pitched 2.0)

This is a stat that I had knowledge of prior to starting this offering. As a lifelong Red Sox and Williams fan I was aware he made an appearance on the mound in 1940 during his age 21 season. On August 24, 1940 in first game of a doubleheader, the Boston Red Sox faced the Tigers at Fenway Park. Williams entered the game in relief for the last two innings. In this outing, he allowed 3 hits, 1 run (earned), 0 walks, and 1 strikeout. The Red Sox lost the game 12-1. His ERA was 4.50 to go along with a 2.00 FIP and a WHIP 1.500.

Given Williams legendary steel trap memory, I am sure he could have discussed at length every pitch to every batter in the outing.

And finally the one that caught me by surprise……………….

Stan Musial (War Rank: 11 (128.6) Total Innings Pitched: 0.0)

In 1952, Stan Musial made his only pitching appearance on September 28th in the Cardinals final game of that season at home against the Chicago Cubs in his age 31 season. While pitching in the last game of the season may seem to a trend for some of the people mentioned here, it is the circumstances surrounding the appearance that make it noteworthy.

Musial is an all-time Cardinals great and a well deserved member of the Hall of Fame. He was a terrific hitter who amassed 7 NL batting crowns, 3 MVP awards, 3 World Series championships and was an impressive 24 time All Star. His equally impressive stat line is shown below:

In 1952, Musial was on his way to another batting title and the person who was chasing him and in second place was Cubs right fielder Frank Baumholtz. Cards player/manager Eddie Stanky decided he wanted to put more fans in the seats for the last game of the season and developed a publicity stunt where he would have his star player pitch (who had started as a pitcher in the minors) in the final game of the season. However, at the start of the game Musial led Baumholtz .336 to .326 making the whole thing rather pointless. Nonetheless, Stanky went forward with his plan. Besides, 17,422 bodies were in the seats of old Sportman’sPark in St. Louis and in Sanky’s eyes everything had worked out.

(The account of this story are a combination of accounts found in Baseball-Reference.com and Retrosheet.org as well as a synopis of the event by SABR.ORG contributor Bill Pruden.)

Photo Credit: (Facebook – St.Louis Cardinals Baseball History – Author: Charles Atwood)

Harvey Haddix, who was a rookie in 1952, was the starting pitcher that day. Haddix walked the leadoff hitter Tommy Brown, with Baumholtz due up next, Sanky came out to the mound and called in his star from center field to pitch to Baumholtz and put Haddix in right, while moving Hal Rice from right to center.

Musial seemed never to be on board with the stunt, but went along with it quite reluctantly. With Brown on first, Musial warmed up briefly and then set about to pitch to his rival. In keeping with the staged event theme of the day, Baumholtz, a left handed hitter, turned around to bat right handed and faced Musial for the at bat. Musial threw his first and only pitch of the day and the “switch hitting” Baumholtz hit a grounder to Cards third baseman Solly Hemus who booted the grounder (his 30th error of the season according to retrosheet.org) and everyone was safe, with Brown hustling all the way to take third base. With the stunt over, Musial went back to center, Rice to right and Haddix returned to the mound.

Musial never threw another pitch in the majors. The experiment, or more aptly put, exhibition was over. The game continued and the Cubs beat the Cards 3-0 with a .500 record of 77-77 and finished in 5th place. Meanwhile the Cards finished at 86-66 solidifying a third place finish in the eight team NL.

Keep this offering in your hip pocket the next time you need a good stump worthy trivia question.